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MENTAL HEALTH AND EDUCATION: PERSONAL EXPERT OPINION
BY DR. EDWARD CHAN, PRESIDENT OF THE MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY (MALAYSIA)
DR. EDWARD CHAN, FMAPSY, FMCBTA, FECARE, PMMSCM, D.PHIL.(Psych), M.SC.(LEARNING), B.SC.(Psych)(HONS), LICENSED AMEN CLINICS THERAPIST. PRINCIPAL CONSULTANT PSYCHOLOGIST INTERNATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY CENTRE (www.Psychology.com.my Edward@Psychology.com.my) KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA. BOARD MEMBER & FELLOW, WORLD COUNCIL FOR PSYCHOTHERAPY (www.worldpsych.org). PRESIDENT OF THE MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHOTHERAPY, FELLOW (www.malaysianpsychotherapy.net). CHIEF EDITOR OF THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY “COUNSELING & PSYCHIATRY: THEORY, RESEARCH & CLINICAL PRACTICE” (www.ijpcp.com).
“The cost of chronic mental disorders treatment such as schizophrenia and bipolar depression are high not only in financial terms but also in terms of loss of productivity to society and the sufferings by the individual and family members.
Many of these disorders have genetic and neurobiochemistry signatures which can be identified so that appropriate individually tailored early treatment intervention can be applied and many of the said costs minimized.
Parents, teachers and doctors need to be educated about these tests so that those family who has a family history of these disorders get informed about them and are motivated to get their young family members tested before clinical symptoms develop.
With these preventative measures being taken with at risks families we can do much to prevent the onset of chronic mental disorders and minimize much of the high costs associated with them. But in order to implement this program we need to put together an effective educational program for all stakeholders: parents and other family members, teachers and doctors.»